Always you

Chapter 6

The next morning, Sasha awoke to her phone buzzing. She fumbled for it, blinking at the screen through sleepy eyes to see a message from Sarah.

Sarah: "Morning! 🌞 Still up for some shopping today?"

Sasha smiled, the idea of a girls' day sounding perfect after the fun, cozy family dinner with the Camerons. She typed out a quick reply confirming and hopped out of bed, eager to start the day. Within an hour, she was in Sarah's car, and they were speeding down the road to the boutique-lined streets in town.

As they parked and started browsing through shops, Sasha found herself slipping into easy conversation with Sarah. They moved from shop to shop, laughing as they tried on sunglasses, commenting on outfits, and even picking out a couple of small gifts for Wheezie. There was an ease to their friendship, and Sasha felt grateful to have met someone like Sarah. She'd always missed having a close friend her age who she could talk to about everything.

"Oh, try this one!" Sarah said, holding up a shimmery sundress that she'd pulled from a rack.

Sasha slipped it on, laughing as she gave a little twirl. "Alright, I think you have an eye for this. You might be my personal stylist now."

"Only if I get to borrow it sometime," Sarah teased, grinning. "And besides, I think Rafe would like it on you."

Sasha felt her cheeks flush slightly. "Oh, stop," she said, laughing as she tried to brush it off. But she couldn't ignore the thrill that went through her at the thought.

"Hey, just calling it like I see it," Sarah said, giving her a knowing look. "Anyway, I was hoping you'd stay over at my place tonight. Mom said it's fine, and Wheezie's excited too."

Sasha's face lit up. "I'd love to! Sounds perfect."

They continued shopping until early evening, collecting bags of clothes, books, and a few small items for Sarah's room. As they walked back to the car, Sarah looped her arm through Sasha's, sighing contentedly.

"I'm really glad you're here, you know," Sarah said quietly. "It's nice to have someone I can really talk to and do things with."

Sasha squeezed her arm. "Same here. You're the best part of coming back."

They drove to the Cameron house, their laughter still echoing as they unloaded their shopping bags. When they stepped inside, Rose greeted them warmly, offering drinks and snacks as they settled in and recounted their day's adventures. Wheezie, already in her pajamas, sat close to Sasha, asking to see everything they'd bought and squealing over each item.

As the night grew late, Sarah led Sasha up to her room, which was decorated with soft pastels, pictures of friends, and stacks of books piled in various corners.

"Make yourself at home," Sarah said, setting up a makeshift bed for Sasha with spare blankets and pillows on the floor.

They stayed up late, chatting about school, future plans, and even delving into Sasha's past adventures and memories from her old life. Eventually, the conversation drifted toward Rafe, and Sasha found herself feeling conflicted.

"What's he really like?" Sasha asked. "I feel like there's more to him than he lets on."

Sarah tilted her head thoughtfully. "Rafe can be complicated. He's protective of me and Wheezie, and he's actually a big softie once you get to know him. But he's also got... well, he sometimes gets caught up in things, crowds, parties. He's always being pulled in different directions, you know?"

Sasha nodded, feeling her curiosity about him deepen. They continued talking until they were both too tired to keep their eyes open. As Sasha drifted off to sleep, her mind was filled with images of the day, of the laughter she'd shared with Sarah, and of Rafe's lingering glances from dinner.

Sasha awoke sometime in the early hours of the morning to the sound of footsteps and a door opening down the hall. She lay still, listening, her eyes adjusting to the dim light in the room. Curiosity got the best of her, and she quietly climbed out of bed, tiptoeing to the door to peek out into the hallway.

She caught sight of Rafe at the end of the hall, supporting a girl who looked a bit unsteady on her feet. The girl's laughter was slurred, and she leaned heavily on Rafe, her arm draped around his shoulders as he led her carefully toward his room.

Sasha's heart tightened slightly, a pang of jealousy that surprised her as she watched Rafe's concerned expression. He was focused on helping the girl, his demeanor gentle as he reassured her softly, helping her down the hallway and into his room. He carefully closed the door behind them, and Sasha lingered for a moment, feeling conflicted.

She wanted to go back to bed, but the image of Rafe with the girl lingered in her mind. Sasha knew that Rafe's life was more complex than she could understand in a few brief interactions, and while she didn't want to assume anything, she couldn't ignore the small ache in her chest. Taking a steadying breath, she returned to her makeshift bed, determined not to let it bother her.

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the curtains as Sasha awoke to Sarah nudging her gently.

"Wake up, sleepyhead," Sarah said with a smile. "Waffles for breakfast."

Sasha stretched, brushing away the memories of the early morning. She felt the usual warmth of being with friends return as she got up and followed Sarah downstairs. The entire Cameron family was gathered around the kitchen, and the cheerful atmosphere helped ease the tension she'd felt.

Rafe appeared a little while later, looking slightly tired but greeting everyone with his usual easygoing charm. He caught Sasha's eye and offered her a warm smile, and she felt her heart skip a beat despite herself.

"Good morning," he said, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary.

"Morning," she replied, doing her best to keep her tone light. She watched as he interacted with Wheezie and Sarah, who teased him about looking tired, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for him, even if he was a little more complicated than she'd expected.

As they all sat down to breakfast, Sasha felt a renewed sense of ease, letting go of her earlier worries. Whatever Rafe's life outside of these family moments might entail, she was content to enjoy the warmth of their friendship and the growing bonds she'd made with the Camerons.